Quick note: my new song "Meet Me at the End of the World” just dropped. If you haven’t gotten a chance to listen put those airpods in and check it! We’re coming up on 1500 streams and it’s only been 2 days. Very proud of this cataclysmic love song, produced by Morse Code Podcast alum Anthony DaCosta.
What does human-curated radio mean in an era dominated by algorithms? In this episode of The Morse Code Podcast, I sit down with Celia Gregory from Nashville’s WNXP to talk about the power of radio, music discovery, and how real people—not algorithms—shape the sound of a city.
Celia shares her journey from college radio DJ to morning host at WNXP, the role of local radio in fostering music communities, and why she believes in giving underrepresented artists a voice.
We also discuss the DIY spirit of indie musicians, how radio stations decide what music to play, and the challenges of balancing art with the modern digital landscape.
Personal anecdotes abound - Celia shares a story about how her recent visit to Paris became an odyssey of band discovery, one that landed a heretofore little known European band a slot on the WXNP playlist. Korby tells how his early obsession with Gillian Welch led to a serendipitous encounter at a rock club in Seattle.
My favorite part of the podcast? Celia’s account of her recurring attempts to bring generations together through music. See, a decent percentage of the folks listening to WNXP in the mornings during are parents driving their kids to school. Celia makes a point to play songs that perhaps both mom and daughter, or father and son, can relate to. Building family harmony through… harmony.
Watching this episode this morning got fired me up about this part of my ever-evolving journey through music and art: the community-building part. Grow where your planted, I read somewhere once. To that end I feel like I woke up last year and realized I’ve spent the better part of my life in one of the most talent-rich places on earth. I live here and I love here and I want it be as awesome as possible.
As an artist in a tough industry I’m working hard to be the best version of me that I can, but God it gets annoying sometimes. I get sick of the self-absorption. The podcast is a way I can take a break from myself and pay attention to someone else.
Sitting across the table from someone similarly inspired, whose whole job revolves around finding talent and sharing it, filled me with hope. WXNP, with its programming, its curated concert series, and its relentless championing of unique voices, outliers and future superstars, is at the front lines of making Nashville a beacon for real art, not *just* commercial art. And 5 days a week, from 6 - 10 in the morning, Celia is on the mic, and in the driver’s seat.
Listen to WNXP in Nashville 91.1 fm or on wnxp.org.
Follow Celia on IG: celia_wnxp
00:00 Teaser - the human factor at WNXP
00:53 Hello Celia, Korby is passionate about the Nashville music community
02:36 How Celia got into radio
04:09 Influence of Napster, promo then and now
05:53 Korby, curious about the mechanics of how digital music is played on the radio
07:02 How many new lesser known artists does WNXP play?
07:25 What are WXNP's ringers?
08:27 Paint the picture for how the playlist is getting decided on
10:44 the dream job that is independent radio
11:42 A brief history of Nashville's WNXP
15:11 Korby riffs on the parallels between indie radio and an independent musician
18:51 Korby tells a story about a rando he met at SXSW and now follows
21:00 Celia shares the best thing about her particular slot
23:10 The mystery of metrics
23:41 The different ways WNXP discovers new talent
25:00 Celia's story about going to Paris and accidentally dsicvering a new band
27:11 How often does WNXP spin local artists?
29:02 Pause while we mutally gush about Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch
30:38 Korby shares a story about Gillian Welch in Seattle
32:24 Why it's important to have eclectic tastes when serving the eclectic Nashville community
33:37 The importance of Jason Moon Wilkins as WNXP chief visionary
35:54 Korby is aligned with WNXPs mission of servving the community
36:40 Ways people can connect to WNXP
40:15 What's next for WNXP
41:06 Korby's rediscovery of the depth artistry and talent Nashville holds
43:48 Todd Snider. That is all.
44:57 Celia shares a story about Neko Case and why it's great to go deep with an artist
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